Walking With God Today 06/19/08

“Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’  But now you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil.  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  James 4:15-17 (NKJV)

“Today or tomorrow we will go…”.  Without any recognition of the good and gracious and merciful God who has made us we will make plans without any thought that we could be detained by a family situation, a financial problem, a flat tire on the car, or our heart could stop and we take our last breath before that time comes.

How carelessly we speak of plans and do not include the Lord.  Jesus tells us of a man who had barns, but wanted bigger barns.  His life and his plans were without God.  You may read that parable in Luke 12:16-21.  This rich man who tore down his old barns and built new ones, said, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” but then God said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”.

The book of Proverbs and other books teach us to plan.  To make plans without God, though, is worse than planning a vacation without your wife’s input, and help.  That would be bad enough, but then, make it worse without consulting the Lord, His wisdom, and His will concerning these things concerning our lives.

Just including the phrase, “If the Lord wills” is not a sure sign we are in dependence upon Him for the direction we are taking.  The thought of the words is that we are in His will.  His will is within His sovereign power, and we live by the events, circumstances, and “coincidences” that come into our lives; see them as part of His plan, and submit to His sovereign will.  We really have no idea what will come down the road.  If that is not submitted to the will of the Lord, and our plans are averted, or suddenly changed; we can get a bit testy, and touchy with others.  When the plans are submitted to the Lord, then, we will be at peace no matter what circumstance or problem comes at us.

Arrogance is a problem for most people.  When we accomplish a great task, or close a big business deal we get to feeling, and thinking, “Look what I did”.   Boasting and pride or arrogance is not of God.  When it comes to humanity none of us have anything in which to boast; especially our provisions, and needs.  Sure many of us work hard for what we have; little or much; but the strength we have comes from our Creator, and He alone is worthy of praise.  We ought rather to boast of Him.  James tells us, “All such boasting is evil”.  It is evil because it keeps for one’s self what really belongs to God.

When we boast in our own accomplishments, and abilities we sin against God.  God hates sin, and He cannot look upon evil (Habakkuk 1:13).  We often commit sins in two ways.  There are sins of commission, ie., those are sins we willfully commit.  We know they are sins, and yet go ahead and sin anyway.  Then, there are sins of ommission, ie., those sins where we know to do something good and right, and don’t do them.  “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  When we have the great, gracious, and good God which we do, and He alone is worthy of our praise and worship, then when we boast of our accomplishments it is sin.  When we boast of Him and His greatness, and what He has done for us; He is praised and  glorified.  Make our boast of God.

Walk With God Today.

-Tim A. Blankenship